Closure device.



T. H. BENNIS.

CLOSURE DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30. 1913.

Patented Dem, 11, 1917.

THOMAS H. ZBEN'NIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

cnosunn DEVICE.

p tion of Letters mm. Patented Dec. 11, 191 '7.

Application filed December 30, 1913. Serial No. 809,457.

' To allwk'om it may concern Be it known, that I, THOMAS H. BEN-NIs, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closure Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates-to a closure device, and a particular object thereof is to provide a closure such as may at all times remain upon the article to be closed, and such as may be manipulated so as to positively seal the opening in said article, when desired, and to provide a convenient, eflic ient and adjustable pour out or discharge'nozzle, when' desired. 7

A further object is to provide means for positively locked in position for sealing the article to be closed.

A further and more detailed object is to provide a rotatable valve-like member engaging over the opening being closed, said valve-like member having an aperture therethrough to register with said opening when said member is in one 'positi'on, and to be out of register with said opening when said member is rotated into another position, to provide a clamp menibef for clamping the rotatable member against the walls of the opening being closed," and to provide guide means for guiding the movementsof the rotatable member.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred-to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and.

the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of thisspecification, and in' which I have shown a merely preferred form of embodiment of the invention:

. tached thereto constructed in accordance with the provisions of this invention;

Fig. 2 1s a vertical, sectional view contrally through the structure shown "in Fig. 1,

said view being taken substantially on the plane ofline III I of Fig.1, and being shown somewhat; enlarged; r,

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary, sectional view *taken upon the plane of line ;I IIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view taken upon the plane of line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rotatable valve member detached;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional, view similar to that shown in Fig. 2,rbut illustrating the rotatable valve-like member as being moved into sealing position, and illustrating a means for retaining said member in sealing position; I

Fig. 7 isa' detailed, sectionalview of the clamping member employed; retaining the movable portion of the device Fig; 8 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 6, but illustrating a modified form of guiding means for the rotatable member;

This is formed interiorly with a pocket 1,

into which is fitted a leather, rubber, cork, or composition, gasket 2. Threads or other devices, as 3, are formed exteriorly of the neck for engagement with the cooperative parts 4 formed ber G.

upon the clamping mem- .The clampingmember Gcomprises a hollow cylindrical shell formed interiorly with the engaging means 4 at its lower end.

The upper end of the annular walls are curved inwardly, as at 5. A suitable gnarled surface 5 may be provided exteriorly of the clamping member, if desired.

The rotatable sealing member H comprises preferably a spherical body portion 6 and a laterally extending portion 7. A central aperture 8 extends straight through the body 6 and through the extension 7.

The inwardly curved walls5 of the clamping member G engage about the upper portion of the body 6, and-force the lower porf in the bottle neck.

tion of said body 6 into engagement with the gasket 2 in the bottle neck with a pressure which may be adjusted in the structure illustrated by relative rotation of the clamping member upon the bottle neck, it being understood that the cooperative engaging means 3 and 4 illustrated comprise threads interlocking, though, of course, other suitable means to the same end may be provided, if preferred. V

In its normal position for use, the sealingmember H stands with the extension 7 projecting straight'upward and the aperture 8 registering with the opening in the bottle neck as illustrated in Fig.2. In its sealing position,-the member H stands as shown in Fig. 6, in which position the extension 7 projects in a horizontal plane, the aperture 8 is transverse to the opening in the bottle neck, and aside wall portion 9 of the body 6 extends across the opening in the bottleneck and engages firmly with the gasket 2, so as to completely seal the opening Clamping'member G may be rotated about the bottle neck after the sealing member is moved to sealing position, if desired, so as to improve the contact of the sealing member with the gasket, but this is not usually necessary.

A. cut-away portion 10 is provided at one point in the walls of the clamping member to permit free movement of the extension 7 of the=sealing member into horizontal position, the bottom surface, as 11, of said cutaway portion being disposed so as to be engaged by the exterior surface of the extens1on 7, so as to serve as a means for limiting the movementof the sealing member in one direction. A lug or other device 12 is provided upon the body portion of the sealing member at the side opposite to the side upon which thecut-away portion 10 of the clamping member appears adapted to engage against the upper'edge of the walls of the clamping member to limit the movement of the sealing member .in the other direction.

lln order to reducefriction in the movements "of the sealing member, a plurality of grooves 13 may be provided in the walls ofthe clamping member, as shown in Fig. 7, where said walls engage with the sealing member. f

In order to guide the sealing'member' in its movement, the body portion 6 thereof is preferably provided. with one or more flat surfaces 14, and the clamping member is formed with fiattenedwall portions 15 for engaging the surfaces 14, as clearly seen in Fi s. 3 and 4..

modified form of guiding means is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11.- In this instance, the spherical body 6 is formed with a'pair'of trunnions 16, and these engage within suitable guideways 17 illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. With this form of guide means it is apparent that the opening 8 may be made considerably larger for a given size of body 6, than where portions of said body are cut away to form the fiat surfaces 14.

Anysuitable means may be provided for locking the sealing. member in sealing position, and one such means is illustrated in Fig. 6. This comprises a ,plug 18 which is extended through an aperture 19 formed in the wall of the clamping member and into the end of the opening 8.. So long as the plug 18 is thus positioned, it is apparent that no rotation of the sealing member is The bottle may thus be handled possible. without danger of spilling the contents thereof.

lit has been above suggested that when the sealing member is rotated into sealing position, the clamping member may be adjusted to tighten the seal between said sealing member and the gasket 2. In Fig. 9 l[ have illustrated a structure designed to entirely obviate any such requirement. In this structure a part of the sealing member is shown to be eccentric, viz: The portion of the sealing member which comes into position for sealing the opening in the bottle neck is disposed at a greater distance from the center of the body 6 than the portion of said body which registers with the opening in the bottle neck when the sealing member is in open position. This is more clearly understood by reference to the figure upon the drawing in which the line X is seen to be longer than the line Y. By this means the sealing member may have a comparatively pressure upon said gasket when rotated to sealing position.

The opposite edges of the sealing member are cut away or rounded as best seen at 20 in Fig. 5, so as'to avoid sharp corners which might cut or injure the gasket as the sealing member is rotated.

It may be desirable, as for instance, when the bottle is to be transported for long disstances, to provide a separately formed gasket or cover 21 to engage the upper end of the bottle .neck for closing the opening therein as seen in Fig. 10. In order to hold the gasket 21 in sealing contact with the bottle, the clamping member may be formed with an internal shoulder 22 for engaging the ,peripheral portion of said gasket to clamp same against the bottle. The body portion of the sealing member preferably engages the central portion of the gasket 21 to retain it against bulging outwardly.

When the contents of the bottle is to be used, the clamplng member may be removed temwhich the clamping member may be re- .placedand the sealingmember H brought into engagement with the gasket 2, the same as has been described in connection with the other figures.

In Fig. the gasket 2 is shown to be held in a somewhat differently shaped seat than that'shown in Fig. 2; This is intended to provide a more eiiicient means of retainv namented surface portion 24, said portion serving notjonly to improve the appearance of the device, but also as a part to be gripped when manipulating the member. The extension 7 may be employed as a handle part by means of whichthe spherical part may be rotated.

While I have illustrated and described- I this invention as being applied to a bottle neck, it is, however, clearly apparent that the same is applicable for use asa hose nozzle, ormay be employed for closing the openings of any articles to which it is desirableto apply the same. In this connection, it may be noted that the rotatable part H may be only partly moved and thus serve as an adjustable valve for determining the size of the discharge opening.

In Fig. 12, I have illustrated the vent 23 as being formed with a seat 25 in its outer endfor'retaining a check valve 26. This valve may be of any suitable construction, but is. preferably formed of soft rubber and is provided with an extension 27 projecting inwardly and with. a slit or opening 28, which extends through the bottom wall thereof and through the extension 27 The vent andech eck valve. are particularly useful I when the device of this invention is em ployed upon a bottle 01" the like as it permits Y air to enter the bottle as the liquid is withdrawn. The air from the atmosphere may.

readily pass through the slit, 28, into the opening 23, and thence into the bottle, but

owing to the elasticity of. the material of the walls of the extension 27, said walls will press tightly together and close the slit,

against egress of liquid. therethrough.

The vent aperture 23, either with or without the check valve mav be positioned at any above description or shown. in the accom-' panying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, the comibination with a bottle neck, of a sealing member comprising a spherical body resting 7 .upon the upper end of the bottle neck: and engaging the annular upper edge ofv the walls thereof, said sealing member having an aperture therethrough, and being rotata ble while in engagement with the upper end of the annular walls of the bottle neck to dispose said aperture into and out of regis- -ter with the opening in said bottle neck, and

said spherical body being provided w th a vent aperture therethrough.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a member having an opening therein, of means for closing said opening, said means comprising a body engaging over the end of said member and being rotatable into open and closed position about an axis transverse to the length of the openin in said member, and a check valve carrie by said body.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a member having an open ing therein, of means for closing said opening comprising a spherical body engaging over the end of said member and havmg a pour-out aperture and a vent aperture therethrough, said spherical body being rotatable to adjust the pour out aperture into and out of register with the opening in said memher, and a check valve arranged in the vent aperture. 4. In a device of the class described,'the combination with a'bottle neck having an annular opening therethrough, of a sealing member for said opening comprising a spherical body resting upon the upper endv of the bottle neck and engaging the annular upper edge of the walls of said opening, said sealing member havin a pour out aperture and a vent aperture fiierethrough, and being rotatable while in engagement with the upper end of the-annular walls of the opening in the bottleneck todispose the pour out aperture into and out of register with the opening in the bottle neck, and a check valve arranged in the vent aperture. 5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a member having an opening therein, of means for closing said opening, said meanscomprising a spherical body engaging over the end of said member and having an opening therethrough, said spherical body being rotatable to, adjust said opening into and out of register with the opening in said member, a second opening in said body, anda check valve arranged in said second opening comacross said second opening and having a slit formed therethrough.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a member having an opening therein, of means for closing said opening, comprising a spherical body engaging over the end of said member and having an aperture therethrough, said spherical body being rotatable to adjust said aperture into and out of register with the opening in said member, a vent opening in saidbody coinmunicating with said aperture,'and a check valve arranged in said vent opening comprising a wall disposed across said vent opening having an extension of elastic material therefrom, and being formed with a slit through said wall and through said eX- tension.

7. A; liquid pour out comprising a member having an air inlet passage and a liquid outlet passage therethrough, means whereby said member is rotatable into open and closed position and a check valve in one of said passages.

8. In a. device of the class described, the combination with a member having an opening therein, means for closing said opening comprising a spherical body engaging said member and having an aperture therethrough, means whereby said spherical body is rotatably mounted, and retaining means for the spherical body comprising a flattened surface portion formed upon the spherical body and means engaging said flattened surface portion to retain the spherical body against any rotation except such as to adjust the aperture into and out of register with the opening in said member.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a m'e'mber having an opening therein, of means for closing said open-f ing comprlsing a spherical body engaging said member and having an aperture therethrough, means whereby the body is rotatably mounted to adjust the aperture into and out of register with the opening in said mem ber, and the walls of said aperture at the inner end thereof being depressed and combination with a member having an opening therein, of means for closing said opening comprising a. sphere-like body engaging said member and having an aperture therethrough, means whereby said sphere-like body is rotatably mounted to dispose said aperture into and out of register with the opening in said member, and said spherelike body having a portion of its exterior sphere-like surface disposed eccentrically of closely with the surface portion of said memberwhen in one position than when in another. I

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a member having an opening therein, of sealing means for closing said opening, said sealing means comprising a spherical body having an opening therethrough, means whereby said spherical body is rotatably mounted to dispose its opening into and out of register with the opening in said member, .means for retaining the spherical body against any rotation except such as to adjust its opening into and out of register with the opening in said member, and that portion of the surface of said body which overlies the opening in said member when the spherical body is in closed position being substantially spherical but being disposed eccentrically to the remainder of the spherical surface of the body so as to engage more tightly against said member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THUS. II. BENNIS. Witnesses:

LOUIS B. SCHRAM, LE0 M. EIsENBnne.

at the remainder of the exterior sphere-like 

